Furnace



ug. 16, 1932- A. STANSFIELD FURNACE Filed Dec. 28, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet /QLFREB ,Smwsmaa Aug- 16, 1932- A. ,STANSFILD 1,871,863

FURNAC E Filed Dec. 28, 1929 3 sheets-sheet 5 /NVENT'0R.

HLFRED STDNSFIELD.

Patented Aug. 176, 1932 wie ATI-:s rArenty vFric- ALFRED STANSFIELID, 0F WESTMOUNT, QUEBEC, CANADA FURNAGE Application led December 28, 1929. SeraINor417,234..

whereby finely divided material may be Y.

treated in a furnace, which will overcome the dihculties and disadvantages of the .present methods, which will utilize more lcompletely more economically the heat required for such treatment and the combustible matter employed during the treatment.

A further object is to provide such a method and means of simple, compact and durable construction requiring the minimum of mechanical power andattention, which will prevent the loss of heat to the greatest eX- tent as compared with modern methods.

A further object is to provide a method and means whereby metallic oxides may be reduced-or deoxidized without fusion and brought to a condition in which they will remain stable and not reoxidize.

A further object is to provide a method and means of reducing iron ores or the like preparatory to smelting in an electric furnace., as disclosed in my (3o-pending appl-ication Serial Number 349,107, tiled 22nd,

March 19297 issued February 25, 1930, No. 1,748,805.

A iur-ther object is to provide aV method and means whereby a portion of the apparatus may be employed to generate i'uel gas to be used in 'the heating of other portions without interfering with the continuous progress of the treatment.

Further objects will be set forth in the specification hereinafter.

The invention consists briefly in the use ot a rectangular stack, having a series of vertical partitions therein.

Supported on these partitions and the side walls are a series of iioors inclined alternately and extending from one of the-walls to outlets at their lower edges above the upper portion of the Hoor beneath, the partitions having openings to form horizontal iues over the ioors, and by-pass passages in the side walls connecting the horizontal lues, the whole adapted to provide a continuous passage downwards orthe charge of material being treated, and an ascendingy chan.- nel of connected transverse lines orthe com- .55 bustion` gases across thel floors carrying the charge.

TvVhen combined with cooling apparatus 'the lower floor'leads to passages in the cooling apparatus. I v

1n order-to generate gaseous fuel required in the heatingv of the charge, one or more `floors may be provided withmuliie covers to form gas producing chambers, the gas being drawn-oil through the side walls. 65

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Fig- 1 is a vertical cross section showing coolingAV apparatus.

Fig. 2` is avertical cross section in two parts-D, on the line 2 2 of Fig.,1. E, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section of a portion of the stack showing the-muffled gas producing chambers.

Fig. 4 shows details of the ralres.

The apparatus employed takes thel form of a rectangular stack having front and rear walls 20 andl sidewalls 21.Y

A seriesof vertical partitions 22 parallel with the side walls 21 divides the sta-ck into a series ot vertical chambers.

Supported on ledges or brackets 23 0n the walls 21 and partitions 22 are a series of inclinedtloors 24, which extend from one wall 20 to within ashort distance of the opposite 'wall 20, thereby providingoutletsA at their lower edges through which the charge passes to the'upper` portion of the floor be-V neath.

The partition-walls 22. have openings 221,

y 222, 223 and 224 which formy continuous hor izontal flu'es between the side walls21: over `each floorl 24. By-pass passages 210 in the side walls. 21 connect the horizontal lues. 1n Figure 2 these by-passl passages connect the adj acent horizontal lues at alternate ends andv provide a continuous channelfor the gases to ascend through the stack. Open- Vee ings 211 are provided to permit air and/or fuel to be fed into the transverse flues.

The top floor preferably forms a hopper and is usually mounted at a steeper angle than the otherfloors 24.

The walls 20 may be provided with slots for sliding gates wherebyV the flow of the charge may be held back on any floor.v The hopper and sliding gates having been shown and described in U. S. Patent No. 1,748,805 above referred to, are not shown in the drawings hereto.

A series of ralxes 26 are mounted to reciprocate on the floors 24, which may be operl ated through the walls 20 by suitable means. These ralres 26 have cross bars 260 bevelled towards their driving ends, and the rales may be air or water cooled when required. Figure 4 shows outlet 265 of air cooled rake.

`In Figure 3 there is shown intermediate floors 24 with muffle covers 7 forming gas producing chambers with a series of outlets 71 forming transverse flues to'outlets in the side walls through which the gas generated may be drawn off. Such gas after purication may be fed to the manifold 8 or to any of the fuel inlets in the stack.

The lower floor 241 of the stack 2 leads to a cooling apparatus, comprising, a series of vertical tubes 3 in a chamber 4, the upper ends of the tubes 3 are open to receive the charge and the lower ends open into transverse channels 31 with water cooled conveyors 32 feeding into a container 5 from which the cooled charge may be removed by a suitable conveyor 50.

rThe chamber 4 may have vertical partitions corresponding to those of the stack above, with a series of horizontal battle plates 40 and openings in the partitions to provide a continuous passage from an air inlet 41 to an outlet 42 in the by-pass passage 43.

rl`he lower floor 241has a baffle plate 243 over which is a transverse air chamber 6 into which the heated air from the by-pass passage 43 feeds. A series of small outlets 61 from the air chamber 6 feeds the heatedair into thetransverse flue. above. A manifold 8 with inlets 8O to each compartment supplies fuel gas over the lower floor 241. An overflow outlet 33 to the lower floor 241 may be Vprovided, which may feed to the container 5, through the passage 51.

Employing apparatus constructed as above set forth and shown in the drawings, the op eration of theinvention is as follows The mixture which receives a preliminary i lheating in the hopper,l descends over the inclined floors in thin layers which are subjected to the heat at increasing temperatures of the upward current of gases until it reaches the lower floor.

The layers of mixture on the inclined floors are kept in motion by the rakes which reciprocate and which are protected from the lcharge to become unmixed through the lighter ingredients (coal etc.) coming to the surface.- In passing from one floor to the floor below the mixture provides a seal between the adjacent transverse flues.

Supplementary fuel such as oil, gas or pulverized coal may be introduced for the purpose of increasing the temperature of the ore charge in the stack, but caremust be taken not `to heat the charge to a temperature at which it becomes sticky before it enters the lower floor. The gaseous products of combustion vpass upwards over and across the mixture on the floors in the stack and finally, after heating the topfloor they pass off.

Vhen one or more intermediate floors are provided with -muttle covers to form gas producing chambers, the charge may contain an excess of carbonaceous content above that required in the ordinary operation of the furnace. On the upper floors the iow of heated gases passing over the descending charge transversely, first dries the charge and then raises its temperature. The heat on and over the succeding floors then acts on the charge to reduce or deoxidize its metallic content and t0 produce gases from the mixture, which gases combine with those undergoing combustion in the transverse flues. Additional air and/or gaseous fuel is supplied where required to produce the desired temperature in the transverse flues. Oxidation of the carbon in the mixture or of deoxidized metal by the gases of combustion, is prevented by limiting the supply of air and by the design of the apparatus which tends to prevent intimate contact.

The effect of this treatment of the mixture is such that by the time it has reached the lower Hoor, it has beento a large extent reduced and deoxidized. The losses from unburnt gases and from lwasted heat are reduced to a minimum and the cost of production is lowered.

One special advantage of this invention is that an uncarbonized fuel such as bituminous coal or even sawdust or chipped wood may be used instead of coke or charcoal, the raw fuel y being carbonized in the stack and the volatile gases being burnt and thus serving as fuel to heat the stack.

vIn operation with a cooler the gases fed to the lower floor absorb heat from the mixture .thereonandthereby :assistnithe cooling operation.

I claim:

il. `:In aheating device, `arectangular stack, having -alfseries of vvertical; partitions therein,

la series of .floors #alternately inclined at an angle lessfthan :that/of. the flow ofthe charge ,'toabe itreated,:extending fromopposite walls `with outlets lat their loweredges to the upper -portion of the floor beneath, r and supported vonV the p artitionsand side walls, mechanism Vto advance .the charge downwardly over the floors in thin layers at a controlled rate, openings inthe partitions'forming horizontal flues over the floors, and by-pass passages in the side walls connecting the horizontal lues alternately, adapted to provide a continuous channel for gases ascending the stack over the floors in succession.

2. In a heating device, a rectangular stack, having a series of vertical partitions therein, a series of floors alternately inclined at an angle less than that of the flow of the charge to be treated, extending from opposite walls with outlets at their lower edges to the upper portion of the Hoor beneath, and supported on the partitions and side walls, mechanism to advance the charge downwardly over the ioors in thin layers at a controlled rate, openings in the partitions forming horizontal flues over the floors, and by-pass passages in the side walls connecting the horizontal fiues alternately, having inlets therein to admit fuel and/or air to the flues, adapted to provide a continuous channel for gases ascending the stack over the oors in succession.

3. In a heating device, a rectangular stack, having a series of vertical partitions therein, a series of floors alternately inclined at an angle less than that of the iiow of the charge to he treated, extending from opposite walls with outlets at their lower edges to the upper portion of the floor beneath, and supported on the partitions and side walls, openings in the partitions forming horizontal flues over the floors, and by-pass passages in the side walls connecting the horizontal flues alternately, adapted to provide a continuous channel for gases ascending the stack over the floors in succession, and mechanical means to feed the charge downwardly over the ioors at a controllerd rate and with constant disturbance.

4. In a cle-oxidizing furnace, a rectangular stack, a series of vertical partitions therein extending from back to front-walls, a series of -oors alternately inclined at a low angle, extending between the said walls, with outlets at their lower edges to the upper portion of the floor beneath, and supported on the partitions and side walls, openings in the partitions forming horizontal flues across the floors and by-pass passages in the side walls which connect the horizontal flues alternately adapted to provide a continuous channel for vthe 4heated gases ascending vover the charge on the floors, fuel gas inlets at the lower end rof the bottom floor, means to advance the extending from back to front walls, a series .of floors alternately inclined at a low angle,

extending between the said walls, with outlets :at their lower edges to the upper portion of the floor beneath, and supported on the :partitions andsidewalls, openings in the partitions 'forming horizontal flues .across the floors, vand by-pass passages in the side walls -whichconnect the horizontal lues lalternately v-adaptedto provide a :continuous channel for vthe heatedgases ascending over the charge on the floors, fuel. gas inlets at the lower end of the bottom iioor, means to advance the charge over the floors in a thin layer, a coolery below :the bottom floor with outlets'thereto, having :an air'preheater and means to feed the vpreheated air therefrom into the lowest horizontal iiue.

6.V 'In a deeoxidizing furnace, a rectangular stack, faseries of verticalpartitionsl therein 'extending from back to front walls, a series of floors alternately inclined at a low angle, f extending between the said walls with outlets vat their lower edges to the upper portion of :the licor beneath, and supported on Vthe par- ;,titions and side walls, openings in the parti- "tions forming horizontal iiues across the floors fand by-pass passages in the sidewalls which connect the horizontal flues alternately adapte'd toprovide a continuous channel for the heated gases `ascending over the charge on lthe floors, fuel gas inlets at the lower end of the bottom floor, means to advance the charge over the floors in a thin layer, a cooler below the bottom floor with outlets thereto, and an enclosed container with means to transfer the cool charge from the cooler to the container,

7. Ina cle-oxidizing furnace, a rectangular of floors alternately'inclined at a low angle,

which connect the horizontal fluesalternately adapted tov provide a continuousv channel for the heated gases ascending over thevcharge on the floors, fuel gas inlets to the by-pass passages and to the lower end of thev bottom floor, mechanical means to advance the charge downwardly over the floors in a thin layer with continued disturbance, outlets in the bottom:V floor to a cooler below and overflow stack, aseries of vertical partitions therein extending from back to front walls, a series outlets leading to a container below the cooler.

8. In a cle-oxidizing furnace, a rectangular stack, a series of vertical partitions therein extending from back to front walls, a series of floors alternately inclined at a low angle, extending between the said walls vwith outlets at their lower edges to the upper portion of the floor beneath, and supported on the partitions and side walls, openings in the partitions forming horizontal fi'ues across the floors, and by-pass passages in the side walls which connect the horizontal flues alternately adapted to provide a continuous channel for the heated gases ascending over the charge on the floors, fuel gas inlets to the by-pass passages and to the lower end of the lower floor, means to advance the charge downwardl-y over the floors in a thin layer, outlets in the bottom floor to a cooler, comprising a series of vertical tubes on a chamber through which a cooling medium circulates, and a conveyor and enclosed container below the tubes.

9. In a de-oxidizing furnace, a rectangular stack, a'series of vertical partitions therein parallel to the sidewalls, a series of floors alternately inclined at a low angle, extending from frontto back walls with outlets at their lower edges to the upper portion of the iioor beneath, and supported on the partitions and side walls, a. series of reciprocating rakes operating on the floors, adapted to feed the charge over the floors at av controlled rate and with continuous agitation, openings in the partitions forming horizontal tl-ues over the floors, and by-passages in the side walls which yconnect the horizontal flues alternately, in-

lets to the by-pass passages, adapted to supply fuel and/or air to the horizontal flues, inlets to the lower end of the bottom Hoor for fuel gas, and outlets for the treated material.

l0. In a heating device, a rectangular stack, having a series of vertical partitions therein, a series of floors alternately inclined, extending from opposite walls with outlets at their lower edges to the upper portion of the floor beneath, and supported on the partitions and side walls, openings in the part-itions forming horizontal flues over the floors,

and by-pass passages in the side walls connecting the horizontal n flues alternately, adapted to provide a continuous channel for gases ascending the stack over the floors in succession, certain ii'oors having muliie covers extending between the side walls and from the lower edge of the floorA above to the end wall and close to the floor below forming gas col lecting chambers with outlets thereto.

ll. ln a heating device, a rectangular stack having a series of vertical partitions therein, a series of iioors alternately inclined, extending from opposite walls with outlets at their lower edges to the upper portion of the fioor beneath, and supported on the partitions and. sidewalls, openings in the partihorizontal flues and the floors, having outlets thereto adapted to remove the gases given off in such chambers.

ALFRED STANSFIELD. 

